Receiver earpiece



H. G. PAPE.

. RECEIVER EARPIECE.

PP`L1 A o Patented Aug. 8, 1922` .of I

UNHTE STATES PATENT 'GFFICR HERMAN G. PAPE, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

RECEIVER EARPIVECE.

Yo k, the county and State of New York, i

have invented certain new and useful Improvements `in Receiver Earpieces, of which the following is a specification.

The principal purpose of the present invention is to provide means combined with an ear-piece, whereby a diaphragm may be held ina level plane without distortion when clamped between two opposingsurfaces constituting its seats.

A further object is to provide a yieldable surfaceffor the reception of the diaphragm, such surface being preferably integral with the main element of the structure.

It is known that all materials .are prone to change ip n their physicalshape, due to inherent initial strains, molecular structure, climatic conditions, as humidity, tempera'- ture, etc., which are unavoidable and but partially overcome by seasoning processes.

This yapplies to metals aswell as rubber, shellac andsynthetic compositions of matter used extensively in ,the'construction of apparatus of the kind indicated, and irrespective ofthe accuracy originally secured on finished surfaces, the same are susceptible of,becoming so warped or distorted as to seriously interfere with the functions they are expected to perform.

It is also 'known that in structures using diaphragms, such as telephone receivers,

transmitters, etc., in which it-is imperative `that the diaphragms be clamped firmly at their periphery and held so as to vibrate freely at their center, the best results. are attained only when the clamping surfaces, or at least the fixed surface, be truly flat and level, otherwise the sound produced is harsh and discordant, frequently to the extent of unintelligibility, due to a rocking eHect or looseness, permitting fluctuations of rim-portions of the diaphragm because of imperfect Contact.`

The object is then, broadly, in the provision of means by which a complete and satisfactory clamp-ing of the diap-hragin Ais secured, irrespective of surface conditions.

yThese objects are attained bythe novel fconstruction, combination and arrangement Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led Aprill 15,

Patented Aug. e, 1922. i921.E vserial No. 461,484.

of parts, hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a Inavterial. part of this disclosure, and in "whichz-J Figurel is a rear elevational view of a conventional type of telephone receiver.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the same, parts being in section,

showing the application of the invention to the receiver shell, diaphragm and interior .housing.

gure 3 is a fractional sectional view Fi showing an adaptation of the device.

Figure 4 is a similar sectional view show, in a further modification.

igure 5 is an other like sec-tional view illustrating another adapt-ation.

. Referring in detail to the drawings,the numeral 10 designates in general the handpiece or shell of a receiver, the saine containing afsleeve or interior housingll having an expanded flange 12 terminating in a ring 13 overlyingqthe larger, front end of the hand-piece. v

Carried by the sleeve are a pair of magnets 14 .having extending poleA pieces 15 disposed slightly belowthe plane of the outer surface of the flange 112. Engaged by external screw threads, lformed on the largest diameter of the outer shell, is a capy or ear-piece 18, its outer surface 19 being convexly curved inward towards the central opening 2O and provided with a plurality of radial grooves 21 for the vibration or pulsational passage of air when in use.

The inner surface22 of the ear-piece. is i slightly concave with wallsleading from the opening 20 to an annular recess 23 extending partially through the thickest portion of the ear-piece. 1 The outer peripheral wall of the recess 23 is composed of softer, morepliablematerial than its vmain body, this material being in the form of aring 24, the circumference of which extends to the screw threads 25 used to connectthe annularly flanged portionf26 of the cap to the outer shell 10.

v4The invention resides principally in the formation of the elastic, pliable ring 24 and may be combined in one of several different ways. These .ear-pieces, when molded, undergo a -sume the function desired.

In the modifica-aon Shown in legni@V s the entire structure of the ear-piece is made of semi-hard materia-l but capable of con- `forming, so far as the ring seat 27 is concerned, with the surface to which it is forced into contact.

Inthe adaptation illustrated in Figure 4 a pliable ring 28 is secured in an -annular recess 29 formed between shoulders 30 and v31 the ring being embedded substantially half its thickness and heldA permanently in position bycement. I

In Figure 5. a thin ring or gasket 32 is shown as cemented to. a raised seat 33 for like purposes, it being understood that in both the latter devices the entire ear-piece structure is relativel y hard throughout. l

In operation, the ace of the. metal flange or ring 13 is drawn against the end of the hand-piece and the circular disc or metal diaphragm 35 is then applied so as to be acted upon by the pole pieces of the magnets y15, in a manner well understood in the art;

- the cap orear-piece 18 is screwed into position, clamping the peripheral edges of the diaphragm' firmly against the finished metallic seat of the ring 13.

Should this seat 33 vary originally from bein truly fla-tor later become distorted, the exibleielement 24 ofthe ear-piece will give way within a certain degree, but continue to clamp the diaphragmso as to prevent it from rattlin or playing loosely even minutely, at the e ge, while vibrations are imparted to it`from the centre.

The same effect is attained-by the entirely semi-elastic cap shown in .Figure 3 ;`substan tially like results by the -ca y mented ring inFigure 4, an toa lesser deby the cap With-the gasket indicatedA 1n Fi re 5; thus all of the several varieties submitted perform ,the desired functions ofan elastic clamp,.or rear cap with integral self-rectifying diaphragm seat,

While certain preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown :andi described, it will lbe understood' that changes in the form, arrangements,- proportions, sizes and details, thereof maybe made with:

out departing Afrom the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. I

Having ,thus described my invention,

with the cenation with a diaphra ing surface adapted! to contact With a dia` phragm, said clamping surface being distinctly softer than the body of the earpiece.

3. An acoustical member having an adherent, relatively soft, yielding ring adapted to make Contact with a diaphragm, said member havinga. central perforation and a concave formation leading to the perforation.

et. A phoneticmember comprised or relatively firm non-yielding material having a diaphragm seat of relatively soft, elastic and flexible materialvcohering` thereto.

5. An ear-piece havinfg a portion'thereof softer than the body o adjacent material, said softer portion forming an integral part of said ear-piece.

6. An ear-piece having a diaphra m seat relatively yielding and more elastic t an the main body thereof, said diaphragm seat forming an integral part of said ear-piece.

7j A diaphragm clamping d'evice com" rising a relatively rigid body having an a herent yielding diaphragm seat.

8. An ear-piece, in combination with a diaphragm and a support therefor, comprising an annular-body having a central opening, means for en aging the ear-piece to said support, and an e astio seat in said ear-piece for said diaphragm, said seat constitutingan integral part of said ear-piece.

9. An ear-piece, -in comblnation with a diaphragm and a sup rttherefor, comprising an annular body liiiving a. central opening, and an annular recess circumjacent thereto,of a flexible, yielding seat for said diaphragm circumambient the recess, adapted to clamp said diaphragm along its peripheral edge, and means formed wlth t-he body of said ear-piece engageable with said support. v

10. A diaphragm clampingdevice for a phonetic instrument comprising a relatively rm non-yielding bod and a dia hragm clamping surface affixe thereto of re atively greater pliability.

11'. In an acoustical member, the combination with a diaphragm and a support therefor, oran annular body having a central-- opening, and an annular recess circumjaj centv thereto, a flexible,secu'red yieldin seat for said diaphragm circumambient t e recess, adapted to cla-mp said' diaphragm alon its eral edge, and means formed wit sai y engageable with saidsup rt.

12. In an acoustical member, wit combi- `and a support therefor, of an annular dy having a central opening, a secured flexible yielding seat adapted to Aclamp said diaphragm along its peripheral edge', and means formed with then body of said member engageable with said 5 support, said member 'being of slightly concave formation on its' inner surface leading from the diaphragm seat towards the central opening and merging outward into a pr- Y nounced deeper and vtrumpet bell like con- Cavity.

In testimony whereofV I have name to this applaton.

HERMANG. PAPE] 10 signed my l 

